Students in Oakland County remain above average, according to test scores released Monday.

Michigan Educational Achievement Program scores from Oakland schools have exceeded the state average since at least 2005.

Although reading and math scores went up, there was a dramatic decline in the percentage of students proficient in science, both statewide and countywide his year.

The yearly MEAP tests given in fall 2012 were changed last year to be based on career- and college-ready standards in grades 3-9.

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Watch a report on the MEAP scores during today's News at Noon.

Reading and mathematics are tested each year in grades 3-8; writing is tested in grades 4 and 7; science is tested in grades 5 and 8; and social studies are tested in grades 6 and 9. Reading and math scores both statewide and countywide increased in all grades.

Math scores gained at all grade levels statewide; the largest in grades 3, 4, and 5; at 4.6, 5, and 6.1 percent respectively.

Michigan students gained reading proficiency at all grades, particularly in 3 and 8; a 4.1 and 5.2 percent gain respectively. And writing proficiency had a 4.4 percent increase in grade 7 and a 2.2 percent increase in grade 4. When compared to 2011 scores, social studies scores gained 2 percent in grade 6 and declined 0.1 percent in grade 9. Science assessments declined 2.2 percent in grade 5 and 0.6 percent in grade 8 statewide.

Nonetheless, Gov. Rick Snyder is optimistic.

"We're moving in the right direction and that's a credit to our schools, parents and the students themselves," Snyder said. "But much work remains, and achieving further gains will demand our continued commitment.

"Michigan's future depends on the quality of education and preparation our students receive. It is critical to ensure our children are ready when they first enter school and are on track to be career- and college-ready by the time they graduate," Snyder said.

State Superintendent Mike Flanagan, said he's encouraged by the progress in Michigan schools and looks "forward to the continued efforts to help all students achieve at a higher level in all subjects."

Oakland County scores

Scores provided by the state and county are combined averages of all grades in a district in each subject area. Individual student and school scores can vary.

In Oakland County, the schools with the highest overall combined average in reading in grades 3-8 were Rochester, Birmingham, Lake Orion, Troy and Bloomfield Hills, with scores ranging in the mid 80s to 90 percent proficient, according to documents provided by Oakland Schools intermediate district.

For math, the school district with the best overall average combined score in grades 3-8 were Lake Orion, South Lyon, Birmingham, Novi, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester and Troy, with scores ranging from 70 to just below 90.

In writing, districts with the highest combined average were Novi, Birmingham, Lake Orion, Troy, Rochester and Bloomfield Hills, ranging from 61 to just under 80

The highest achieving in science in grades 5 and 8 were Bloomfield Hills, South Lyon and Rochester; with scores ranging from the low to high 30s, slightly higher than the state. All districts had average scores lower than in 2009/10.

"One thing people need to bear in mind is that every time we get to something good, there's a change" in testing, said Ernest Bauer, director of research and evaluation for the intermediate district.

"Every so often these things get recalibrated and often there is a dramatic change" in the percent of students who test proficient, Bauer said. This year that happened in science, where testing is broader and includes many areas of study compared to other subjects.

The definition of a proficient score means "these fifth graders are on track to getting an A or B on their first science college course," Bauer explained.

"But how much science do you know if you are in science in the fifth grade or eighth grade? Science includes chemistry, physics, geology and more. It is such a broad area, I don't think these low scores are surprising," the analyst said.

"We are trying to predict a kid's grade in a broad group of courses eight years later, if you are talking about fifth graders," Bauer said.

Bauer provided data to show how changes over the years in state MEAP testing have changed scores until teachers and students adapt.

For example, in 1988-89, 88 percent of Oakland County's kids were proficient in reading, but the next year after tests were changed, student proficient dropped to 44 percent.

In Oxford and Avondale districts, superintendents were pleased that writing and reading scores were up this year compared to last year, when tests were changed.

"Avondale is above the state average in every tested area and well above the state in reading and math," said Superintendent George Heitsch.

He attributed the results to "our focus on nonfiction reading and writing, our professional development model in Teacher Lab and the quality staff we have in Avondale."

In Oxford , Associate Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, James Schwarz, said students are at or above state average in every grade level and subject this year.

"We are at or above the county average in all grade levels and subjects except for grade 3 math, grade 4 reading and writing, grade 8 math and grade 9 social studies," Schwarz said. "Scores, overall, are trending upwards in all schools. We have seen large areas of growth when comparing individual student scores from last year's performance to this year."

The district continually evaluates instruction and provides "enrichments to students needing those services," Schwarz said.

"We track those performances over time on an individual basis and chart growth, documenting specific strengths and needs, using MEAP data as well as district and classroom measures, to give a fuller picture of ongoing performance," he said.

All subjects will be part of Michigan's school accountability system and will be displayed on school "scorecards," according to the Michigan Department of Education.

FYI

To view complete MEAP results, go to www.michigan.gov/mischooldata and click on the "Assessment Results" tab on the left under "District and School Profiles." You can also visit the MEAP website at www.michigan.gov/meap and click on the "MEAP Test Results" or the "Downloadable Data Files" tabs.

To view complete MEAP-Access results for students for whom regular testing is not appropriate, go to www.michigan.gov/meap-access and click the "Statewide Results" link.